Tarantula Controversies #1: The OBT as a Beginner T

Recently, I sat down to write an article about some of the divisive, hot-button topics that dog the tarantula hobby and often ensnare uninitiated keepers in heated debates. These are subjects that new hobbyists are often interested in learning about, but an internet search or an innocent forum query produces two equally heated and opposing answers. My hope was to present both sides of these gray-area arguments so that keepers could develop their own informed opinions.

As this feature took shape, it was apparent that there were enough of these topics that to try to cover them in one blog post would prove daunting (not to mention provide for a particularly long-winded blog post). The logical decision was to instead cover these topics as a series, focusing on one issue at a time. And, I could think of no better way to kick off this feature than by starting with one of the most incendiary topics in the hobby today…

Should OBTs be kept by beginners?

Background

Like politics, climate change, taxes, gun control, or any other hot button issues sure to spawn heated debates, the subject of OBTs in the hands of beginners is perhaps one of the most divisive and incendiary topics in the hobby today. At least once a week, some unsuspecting newcomer will start an OBT thread on Arachnoboards that quickly de-evolves from a constructive discussion to ruthless one-sided admonishment replete with petty name calling. Things heat up so quickly when this infamous animal is mentioned, that threads have been known to hit several pages in an hour.

Talk about a popcorn thread.

When I first got seriously into the hobby and was spending the majority of my free time researching which tarantula I might want to get next, I stumbled upon a blog post titled “Top Ten Beginner’s Tarantulas”. As it was currently the top site to come up with my search, I assumed that the blog must be a fairly reputable source. Although the majority of this article listed spiders I had already read were good beginners, #10 on the list was one I hadn’t encountered before…an OBT.

The Pterinochilus murinus was a stunning orange tarantula, and I was immediately fascinated by this gorgeous animal. Although the author of this list mentioned that this species was an Old World with a “bad attitude and dangerous venom”, the majority of the post detailed the ease of husbandry and hardiness. This spider immediately shot to the top of my wish list, and I set off to do some more research on it. Had I not spent the next several days scouring the boards for more info about this species, I might have immediately hopped over to Jamie’s tarantulas and snatched up a couple of the slings she had for sale.

However, a quick search revealed that this was a bit more than a spider with a “bad attitude”; in fact, this animal was literally infamous for its vicious temperament, blinding speed, potent venom, and propensity for biting. A quick review of Arachnoboard’s Bite Report section convinced me that this was a spider not to be trifled with. It didn’t take me long to determine that I wasn’t ready for the feisty beauty affectionately referred to as the “Orange Bitey Thing”.

Not all newer keepers wait to acquire this fascinating and notorious T, and this can prove quite problematic to hobbyists that consider this species to be an “expert-level” spider. They believe that the P. murinus is potentially dangerous tarantula that is best kept in the hands and collections of seasoned keepers. However, not all agree with this assessment. On the other side of the fence, hobbyists argue that this species is okay for beginners. Although this used to be an argument favored more by folks newer to the hobby, I’ve seen at least one reputable breeder and several experienced hobbyists come out in support of this idea. Below are the arguments and counter arguments and how they usually break down. For clarity, stances supporting OBTs for beginners will be in GREEN; stances against will be in RED.

The Arguments

Ease of care is what defines a good “beginner” tarantula, and there is none easier than the OBT The P. murinus is widely recognized as one of the hardiest Ts on the market. They do well set up as terrestrials or semi-arboreals, meaning they can adapt to just about any enclosure type. They have no moisture or temperature requirements and thrive on bone dry substrate; many folks don’t even give them water dishes due to their propensity to web them over. OBTs eat well and grow fast, meaning your precious spider will be out of its fragile sling stage quickly. Finally, they are readily available in the hobby and quite inexpensive, which makes them a great, low-risk introductory spider.

As for the OBT’s legendary and unpredictable temperament, some argue that the notoriety it receives for being hyper aggressive and fast actually renders them predictable. Informed newbies who acquire this animal will have already heard scores of stories about its nasty nature and will likely be overly cautious when working with it. Although this spider is more of a handful than other beginner tarantulas, a bit of caution and common sense would go along way. For those just getting into the hobby, this would be a great hands-off introduction to tarantula keeping.

Temperament MUST be considered when choosing a beginner tarantula, and the OBT’s attitude renders it inappropriate for a beginner. Folks in this camp tend agree that there’s more to a good “beginner level” tarantula than ease of husbandry. Although the OBT is an undeniably hardy tarantula, with many joking that they can thrive if kept on shattered glass for a substrate, their temperaments, speed, and venom potency render them potentially dangerous in the hands of people who don’t have a lot of experience keeping tarantulas.

Although ease of husbandry is definitely a priority, temperament should also be a consideration, especially for species packing medically significant bites. A mistake with a docile tarantula, like a Grammostola or Brachypelma, could lead to a bite that is little more annoying than a bee sting; a mistake with an OBT could lead to a hospital visit. Bites from this species can lead to excruciating pain, nausea, cramping, and other unpleasant symptoms in a full-grown adult.

Transfers are also a major part of husbandry, and this is an area where OBTs can be their most troublesome. Escapes are a major concern for those working with tarantulas, and a keeper not used to these spiders’ sudden speed bursts often experience the panic of suddenly having a large spider on the loose in his or her home. For slower New World terrestrial species, this isn’t as much of an issue as they are usually easily cupped and returned to their enclosures. As for the OBT, these speedy little devils can be a nightmare to wrangle.

With proper research, and new keeper can prepare to correctly care for an OBT.Any responsible hobbyist is sure to do adequate research for any species he or she is looking to acquire, and it’s no different with the P. murinus. Keepers new to the hobby can prepare to receive an OBT by spending some time researching this species. This research should include speaking to experienced folks, watching the YouTube videos illustrating their speed and attitude, and reading accounts from those who keep them.

These folks also argue that NO ONE is ever really ready for a defensive and unpredictable species like the OBT, and even an experienced keeper isn’t necessary going to be any more prepared for an escape or a bolting spider than someone new to the hobby. After all, isn’t an experienced keeper who’s getting an OBT for the first time in the same boat as a newbie as neither has kept this species before? Experience is gained by doing, so the best thing to do before procuring this species is to read up and prepare.

Research isn’t enough; experience is necessary.On the other side of this debate are generally more experienced keepers and those newer to the hobby who feel that reading about a species is in no way the same as the experience garnered from actually keeping them. Many of these folks have been around long enough to see inexperienced keepers acquire this species only to later become afraid of it, and some have even acquired OBTs from folks who became terrified of them. Respect for any tarantula is necessary, but fear can can be dangerous to the keeper and the spider. This intimidation can lead to poor husbandry, as the keeper is unable to clean or rehouse their pet.

Keepers who have already worked with calmer species for a while will have honed basic skills like cleanings, feedings, and rehousings, which will make dealing with a spider that can be this defensive, fast, and unpredictable much safer. They argue that an experienced keeper getting a P. murinus for the first time might not have experience with that particular spider, but their hands-on experience with other species and an understanding of T keeping fundamentals will leave them much better prepared for mishaps.

Many keepers believe in the “Ladder System”, or the idea that people new to the hobby should work their way up to more advanced Old World species only after gaining experience by working with more docile New World beginner species. In this scenario, a keeper might start by keeping a “calm” species like a B. smithi or B. albopilosum before “graduating” to something a bit larger and more feisty, like an A. geniculata. After spending a couple years with these species, this keeper might then move to getting a beginner Old World, like E. pachypus or C. darlingi.

In this system, the keeper spends time working with tarantulas for at least a couple years as he or she develops the skills and instincts needed to successfully and safely deal with advanced species like the OBT. Proponents of this system argue that reading about spiders only gets you so far; the best knowledge comes from actually keeping them. They believe that inexperienced keepers that skip this step are setting themselves up for problems. For example, you wouldn’t give someone with only a few months of experience driving a moped a Ninja to ride; they would have to work up to the more advanced bike.

Obviously, many folks new to the hobby have kept OBTs over the years without incident, so it’s no big deal.Head to any online tarantula vendor to check out their stock, and you’re likely to find that they have plenty of P. murinus slings available for purchase (and at really low prices). The OBT has been a hobby staple for quite some time, and there’s a good chance that the majority of the hundreds, if not thousands, of slings sold each year are going to folks who are not tarantula keeping experts.

The fact is, for all of the alarm and condemnation when a newbie to the hobby procures this species, there really aren’t a lot of reports out there about a newbie losing, getting bit by, or being overwhelmed by his/her new pet. After all, if hundreds or thousands of these spiders are out there, there should in the very least be dozens of bite reports, right? In several instances, those who have been in the hobby for a while will eventually admit to acquiring an OBT early on and raising it without incident, seemingly debunking the theory that they are an “expert species”.

It puts the hobby at risk.For folks on this side of the fence, the issue also goes beyond the welfare of the individual keeper and spider; they feel that a well-publicized bite report could lead a species ban or a ban on tarantula keeping in general. In all likelihood, the majority of bites aren’t reported on public forums, meaning there is no way to tell how folks are handling this animal. However, many feel that all it would take is for one bite report to make the news in a sensationalized manner for the hobby to be put in jeopardy.

If we’re being honest, tarantula keeping is a bit of an eccentric, niche hobby. Anyone who has been in the hobby a while has gotten used to the strange, often judgmental looks when you tell folks that you like to collect giant spiders. And, as many people are very ill-informed about these animals, fallacious stories abound about deadly spiders capable of horrendous violence against their keepers and their unsuspecting families. One publicized trip to the emergency room could lead to a campaign to ban these animals by an over-zealous politician.

On a personal note, I live in Connecticut where it is already illegal to sell venomous animals (including tarantulas) in pet stores and at public conventions. Even worse, after the highly-publicized chimp attack in 2009, legislators proposed a bill that would have banned ALL exotic pets. Folks who worry about a partial or full ban on the hobby are not being alarmists; it could happen.

My $0.02.

Again, like many debatable topics, this topic really isn’t a black and white issue. If you’re a keeper who is still panicking because your spider has buried itself for a molt or who has never had to transfer a spider from one enclosure to another, you really should avoid the OBT until you have some more experience. I do feel that base experience is necessary before one attempts to keep an OBT, but I also feel the amount of experience needed is going to vary greatly from keeper to keeper. Are the majority of new keepers ready for an OBT? I’ve spoken to many over the years, and my experience tells me “no.” There are just so many basic skills necessary for this hobby that are much more easily mastered and perfected with slower New World species. However, there are those I have encountered who are more than ready, and do a great job transitioning well into keeping this feisty T.

Again, it’s not black and white.

I’ve seen many instances of new keepers announcing that they’re ready for an OBT only weeks after posting a panicked cry for help because their T has flipped to molt. Or, they post that the transfer of their B. smithi was a total debacle, then later explain that the same thing won’t happen if they get a P. murinus. These are the types of alarming statements that raise the ire of more experienced keepers and get those OBT threads heating up…

Furthermore, I truly believe that if you’re taking to a public forum to ask if you are ready, the answer is most assuredly NO. As much as many folks would like to pretend that there are some set ground rules for who can get an OBT and when, that’s really not the case. Asking folks on a forum only evidences that the keeper is probably not ready for this animal and is looking for confirmation from other keepers (and believe me, that keeper will get it!). Ultimately, it’s up to the individual to make the responsible and informed decision as to if he or she is ready for this animal.

I do feel strongly that this is an species that should only be purchased by someone who, in the very least, has the basics of husbandry under control. This means, cleaning, recognizing common issues, feeding, transferring, and other common housekeeping aspects. As many accidents and escapes happen during rehousings, I believe that it’s particularly important that keepers have a practiced and safe system for transfers. Once you have the basics of tarantula keeping down and you’ve worked with a few species of spiders, then it might be time to consider some more advanced species.

Again, fear is dangerous in this hobby, and this species is one of the “scarier” spiders available. If you’re thinking of getting an OBT, but the idea of having one of these speedy orange devils scares you a bit, wait. Respect and caution is paramount when dealing with fast-moving defensive spiders; fear can lead to mistakes which then lead to a bite or a dead spider.

I do believe that some individuals are just more inherently capable of correctly caring for an OBT and dealing with its attitude without as much experience as others. That’s a fact. However, it’s not up to me or other keepers to determine who those folks are. I have noticed that many of the folks that post about getting one on the forums seem to be the ones I would rather not have them.

I also think that this species should be for adults only. There is also the very real issue of younger keepers who are still living at home acquiring this species. Although OBTs will not kill you with their venom, a bite from this species will definitely make an adult individual miserable. Now, imagine for a moment that one of these spiders escapes and ends up biting the family dog, cat, or a child in the house. By their nature, teenagers, can be a bit reckless. Heck, I used to be one, and I still marvel at some of the less-than-informed decisions I’ve made. Hop on YouTube and you can find a plethora of videos featuring younger keepers proudly displaying reckless behavior with their Ts, and more than a few featuring the OBT.

Obviously, there are likely some fine young keepers out there who innately possess the maturity and skills needed to safely care for this animal. However, I do think that parents need to be informed and a big part of the decision process for a teen who is looking to acquire a P. murinus, as a mistake could affect the whole household. In the very least, a younger keeper still living at home needs to do his or her best to inform parents or anyone else in the household about these animals so that a decision can be made as a family as to whether or not to keep one.

Final thoughts

The P. murinus is a gorgeous and amazing species of tarantula that I personally believe is a great addition to any collection. That being said, it’s notoriety as a vicious, unpredictable speed demon is well deserved, meaning that this is a species not to be trifled with. A quick glance at bite reports for this species illustrate that it is quick to bite, will bite repeatedly, and its strong venom can produced intense pain and lingering full-body cramping.

In other words, the OBT has all the makings for a really bad day.

That said, responsible keepers with a modicum of common sense and a basic understanding of tarantulas and their husbandry might be tempted to keep this unique an notorious spider. However, before any hobbyist, new or experienced, brings one of these Ts into the home, she should ask herself, “am I ready?”

33 thoughts on “Tarantula Controversies #1: The OBT as a Beginner T”

Nice article. I agree 100% that the lines of keeping T’s like the OBT are not clearly defined. Because of the unclear nature, I as a new hobbyist would avoid it despite having seen and read things that say they are easy. I honestly feel I could manage well enough with an OBT, but I have a toddler and if it did escape somehow it could get ugly. Spiders are known to find a way out. Since I have a little one no medically significant or overly aggressive species will be in my collection.

I think on the surface, logic dictates that for most beginners, the OBT is NOT a good spider. However, that doesn’t take into account individual skill levels and abilities. Some folks will just pick up on this stuff faster than others and will be able to handle this tarantula without issue. Other might never be ready for this animal. Like you said, the lines are definitely not clearly defined. And, like you bring up, I don’t think some folks also take into consideration who else lives in the home with them. That’s important, too.

Excellent article. Mine watches TV with me. Not kidding, anytime the monitor starts motion/sound stuff, it comes out of its den, plops its butt in a cool silk tv chair and stretches out facing the action. It has learned to recognize the vent top lid opening (me getting ready to drop in food) and about 1/2 the time catches the stuff on the way down. 😀

Mine was a freebie from Swift’s at about my 3rd month as an active “keeper”. Not unsolicited, but a freebie choice I made that came along with 2 other T’s.

What is interesting to me is that out of ALL of my T’s, it is the one I did the most “prep” for in the housing situation, and turned out to be the easiest to house. Go figure. heh heh. (My Nhandus, both the chromatus and the coloratovillosus on the other hand, turned into a 45 minute keystone cop chases around the bend. 😀 )

The one concession I made with the OBT was to house the minute sling in a 4x4x7 enclosure with a tall lid. I have not had to open that lid in 6 months, and even though it has shown good growth, it has some time to grow before the next rehouse, and has done some outstanding architectural work to feng shui the place.

Absolutely it is NOT a beginner T from a general behavior p.o.v, and yet it is an absolutely care-free start to the hobby from a husbandry p.o.v. –File THAT under “Murphy’s Law”.

But then I’m not “typical” from the general field when it comes to Keeping. (not a brag, just observation after 9 months of observing the forums and social media posts. heh heh.)

Thanks! That is amazing about your little orange couch potato. Until you keep tarantulas, you honestly can’t understand how they all actually have little “personalities”. And I’ve seen the behavior where they learn to recognize where the prey will be coming from; the Ts that do that are some of my favorites to feed.

I was also extra cautious when it was time to rehouse mine, and things went very well. Still, I tend to be cautious with all of my rehousings; hope for the best but plan for the worst! The one that gave me the most trouble to date was an H. incei gold. Little bugger bolted on me, and took me a bit to wrangle him up. I’ve been very fortunate with the transfers, especially before I perfected my technique. For folks I’ve talked to, the rehousings is where they generally have their OBT troubles. Those little devils are just so fast, and no one wants to risk a bite from one.

Housing the “hotter” species in larger enclosures is an excellent move. I do the same with some of mine, including my pokie species (they’re so fast growing, that it doesn’t take them long to actually need that extra space).

I have the word’s slowest growing OBT. I bought my girl over two years ago and she’s only about 3″. I think she an undiscovered dwarf species. Hahaha

No, you are definitely not one of the “typical” keepers; you definitely did your research and picked this stuff up very quickly. Others…not so much. Haha

Mine hasn’t molted past 2.5″ and I’m not crying. I like my TV buddy right where it’s at. heh. What I do not understand in this hobby is why there is so little mention or use of the “pop bottle” catch cup. I saw Jacobi demonstrating one of these awhile back in an old youtube video, and built my own. It is the most brilliant tool for my “scary” T’s that I possess.

The tarantula’s natural inclination is to bolt to the safest place possible. When using the pop bottle catch cup, that “safe place” is the small neck/lid area. You don’t even really need a cover for the wide area once they are in. Then you move to the T to the new enclosure entrance, tap the lid once. Unscrew the bottle lid and move it just enough to blow down. The T retreats from the air (a threat), and into the new enclosure. It has made my life so much easier with rehouses, it isn’t even funny. When it it finally IS time for my OBT to be rehoused, this is not even an option in my opinion. 🙂
Pic attached:

I thought long and hard before aquiring my first OBT – mainly because I have an existing medical condition that means a bite from one of the more potent Ts would easily land me back in hospital (so to anybody with a pre-exisiting medical issue, I would caution you to weigh up the pros and cons of keeping Old World tarantulas).

Tango doesn’t even seem to realise she’s an OBT. She’s easily as laid back as my MM G. pulchripes – but she’s only recently moulted and this could very easily change. As Casey has said above, it’s the N. chromatus who would like to give me a face hug – and let’s not get me started on my E. murinus and her recent escape attempt – but just because she’s so docile now that doesn’t mean she always will be 🙂

I know that I responded to this, but I can’t find my reply! So sorry if this is a repeat!

You bring up a GREAT point about pre-existing medical conditions. I know that a couple of the side effects of an Old World bite are heart palpitations and racing heartbeat. I often wondered what this could mean for someone who might already have a condition (and obviously, there are many other conditions that could leave a person’s body compromised, leading to even more severe consequences from a bite. Anyone with pre-existing medical conditions should absolutely take this into consideration.

Tango sounds like a sweetheart! Mine was a little scaredy cat until her latest molt. I wouldn’t label her as “defensive” yet, but she is definitely much more bold. 🙂 You’re right in that molts can (and often will) bring temperament changes.

Again, if you already got my first reply to this, my apologies for the repeat!

Unfortunately, since I commented here, Tango has succumbed to either old age or mould spores in her book lungs (she arrived with me presenting a white spot that I was told was a “dry patch” but which very quickly spread. I no longer use the seller who sent her to me because either way that poor T turns out to have just not been healthy – but probably lived a little bit longer and a ot more comfortably for my ministrations). A friend gave me a tiny sling – “Ori” some time ago, and on Thursday another friend brought me a larger sling that he bred himself (“Genie”, in honour of David Bowie). On Tuesday the juvi I bought is arriving. At least with these three fabulous people, I know roughly how old the OBTs are, and I know that they’re good and healthy.

Oh dear…I feel terrible for bringing it up. I’m so sorry to hear about Tango. I find it very troubling that you might have been sold a sick spider by a dealer; I hope that this was just an oversight on his/her part. I AM glad to hear that you have others to care for, and it sounds like there will be no concern about their health. Again, so sorry. 😦 – Tom

You weren’t to know; it’s okay. She was alive and seemingly well when I posted my original comment 🙂

Sadly, the seller is known for this kind of stunt. I bought a G. pulchripes female from them two years ago who actually turned out to be male; I was willing to let that go as “one of those things” (because people do get fleeced or get the sex wrong) but I managed to get their operation shut down last year, after they admitted to me that they’d been sending males as females to people who had annoyed them.

My new OBT arrived just this morning: definitely a juvi, definitely not mouldy and absolutely stunning. I’ve named her Elektra, but if she turns out male I’m sure I can think of another Marvel name I like just as much 🙂

If you could, would you be able to drop me a private email with the name of the seller. I HATE that kind of stuff, and it’s good to know for when I recommend dealers to folks. That is absolutely infuriating; what a crappy thing to do.

Congrats on Electra (I can’t WAIT for season two of Daredevil)! Glad to hear that she is healthy and mould-free.

OBT was my 2nd tarantula. Knowing what I know now, I never should have gotten one so soon. But he or she (molts are always crunchy before I can get to them) was 4 inches and being sold for just $25. He’s a bright, bright firey orange. Absolutely gorgeous. Luckily (or perhaps unluckily?) he’s a total pet rock and can’t be bothered to get defensive with me or put up any kind of a fuss during maintenance and rehousing.

But you survived! 😉 Seriously, I’m thinking MANY people grab these guys up before they have the experience or even know much about them. They are just so darned pretty (I LOVE orange), that I’m sure many unsuspecting folks who are used to calm Ts pick them up as slings not realizing that they have the potential to turn into little nightmares. Sounds like you have a true gem in yours! 🙂

Yeah, though I admit at times I wish he were a bit feistier. I have a P. regalis with attitude that is one of my favorites because he is just so much fun to watch stalking around and his speed is incredible. It seems you pay for the more interesting attitudes with a higher level of risk.

Nahhhh…calm OBT is a wonderful thing! 🙂 Poecilotheria is my favorite arboreal genus, so I definitely hear you about how much fun they are to watch. My P. regalis male and female are both surprisingly chill. My P. ornata…not so much. Haha. She’s not what I’d call defensive, but she sure is flighty. I agree that the tarantulas with some of the most endearing and interesting attitudes are the ones you have to be extra careful with. 🙂

I am a relatively new T keeper. Ive had a few new world tarantulas in the past, and in the last year and a half ended up with a cobalt blue, a Togo starburst, and an OBT. Needless to say hindsight is 20/20 and the benign NW’s I kept in the past were not an adequate warm up for these three. My OBT was the crazy demon spider they are rumored to be when it was at the store. However now it’s in a zoo med tall vivarium (like a 10gal on its side). It has a well established den inside a cork bark log. Now I never see threat displays, it just books it back to its den if I start messing around with the cage. The same with the the cobalt and the h. Mac. I can’t help but wonder if the larger enclosures with the established dens aren’t responsible for “all flight, no fight” behavior of my Ts. For reference they’re all between 4-5in leg span.

Wow, you jumped right into the deep end with those three – that’s like a triumvirate of terror! 🙂

I agree completely that giving these fast and feisty species extra room can help eliminate the more defensive behavior. Given a bit of room, most would rather bolt to their dens when disturbed. When you give them smaller enclosures, the entire CAGE essentially becomes the den. Opening it is the equivalent of intruding into their actual homes, and that kicks in their “fight” instincts. Great observation!

There are plenty of old world spiders that aren’t as temperamental. My M balfouri sling simply runs down the burrow when I open the cage. Usually that’s to stick a mealworm into her burrow and get it stuck in the webbing properly. She usually eats it 2 minutes after it warms up and begins wiggling.

My P Striata sling is almost TOO calm. I can’t open the top of the cage because she parks herself in the top rear corner and won’t move, even if a flashlight is waved across her. Tapping or blowing etc is fairly ineffective. I’m forced to wear my tactical stab proof tactical gloves, open it just a crack wide enough to throw in feeders.

Both will mature into spectacular animals gradually changing their behavior as they grow.

There is one scenerio where I’d 100% accept an OBT. That would be if it was facing euthanasia because it either bit someone or the owner was to scared to keep it alive, for example humane society etc.

I think they get a really bad rep when, if kept right and given space to retreat, they aren’t all that bad. They are quick, and they won’t hesitate to bite if they feel cornered, but mine have always tried to run and hide first. Thanks for chiming in! 🙂

The P striata and H pulchripes are both doing great. Sadly enough, Maxine my M balfouri passed away from fecal impaction. That became apparent when I noticed mold and did an emergency rehouse. She passed away in an ICU cup after the blockage released.

I love the article and it is so true. I have been keeping T’s for about 6 years now and decided to try my hand at OW. P. Regalis, Gee at the speed, well ordered a blue colbalt only this time I get a free OBT sling also. All are doing well I just know when I am having to do any maintenance to enclosures to make sure there is plenty of room, catch cup, and plenty of coffee before. It might get interesting quickly.

Got a set of 3 OBT slings (~0.5″) as my first tarantulas. Yeah. I was a little crazy and stupid. Had a heart attack when one was lost in bathroom while unpacking. Did find it and relocated it into the enclosure. Some of the things that helped keep me from landing into the ER were: 1) I did a lot of research on these. So I was careful. Never got biten 2) I raised tiny spiders and various insects over the years so I had practiced transfering and working with insects you can’t pick up. Didn’t prepare me for the speed of an OBT but helped with the fundamentals and basic skills (plan ahead, have cups ready, etc. 3) they were slings so they were fast but not aggressive. Boy, oh boy, when they reached about 1.5″, they started showing the crazy agressive side. By then I had some practice with feeding and such so it wasn’t as bad.
If I would have done it again, I would have gotten a calm species and slowly move to faster and less venomous ones, then maybe to OBT, maybe. Ironically, shortly after getting the OBT slings, I fostered a G. Porteri and ended up adopting it. The contrast in temperament between G. Porteri and OBT made me realized how crazy the OBTs were.
Highly NOT recommend the OBT as a beginner species. They are hardy and pretty, but so aggressive and venomous. Mine were dripping venom from fangs and in threat pose just from the lids getting open for feeding.